Bright new era at Winchelsea Bowls Club
Published on 14 April 2025
Winchelsea Bowls Club has entered a bright new era with formal unveiling of new lighting for night competition and training.
The Victorian Government’s Parliamentary Secretary for Community Sport Michaela Settle MP, representing Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence, joined club and Bowls Victoria officials and Surf Coast Shire Council Mayor Mike Bodsworth for a ceremony hailing completion of the $151,157 sports lighting installation project.
The club’s green can now be illuminated by 100 lux LED lighting from four new 13.5-metre towers.
The lighting meets Bowls Australia night competition standards and can be dimmed for non-competition activities such as training and social bowls.
Winchelsea community initiated the installation project and Winchelsea Bowls Club contributed $37,539.
The Victorian Government contributed $112,618 via the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund and Surf Coast Shire Council managed project delivery.
Community members attended the evening opening ceremony on Friday 11 April and later joined members for barefoot bowls under the lights.
Parliamentary Secretary for Community Sport Michaela Settle: “Winchelsea is the bowls hub in the local area. Locals deserve modern facilities they can be proud of.
“The new lighting is a real boon for local bowls, providing the club the opportunity to welcome more players and take the local game to the next level.
“Better sport and recreation facilities make it easier for Victorians to get involved in local sport and recreation and lead healthy and active lifestyles.”
Winchelsea Bowls Club president Andrew Doyle: “The club’s success off the green with this project complements the success we have had on the green winning six premierships in different divisions in the past four years.
“To receive grant funding of this size is fantastic and we would like to acknowledge the support of the Victorian Government, Sport and Recreation Victoria and Surf Coast Shire Council.
“We look forward to further improvements as we continue growing the game in Winchelsea.”
Surf Coast Shire Council Mayor Mike Bodsworth: “We congratulate Winchelsea Bowls Club and Winchelsea community for having initiated and realised this project, which will help light the way for the club for decades to come.
“Expansion of playing and training options under lights is sure to appeal to existing and new members in the growing community and help keep people across a wide range of ages active and involved.
“We appreciate the Victorian Government’s support through the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund.”
Club leaders approached Council with the project concept in November 2022 via Council’s online community project proposal portal.
Council’s Community Project Development Program led a project working group including club board members and a representative from Bowls Australia through a detailed project planning and scoping phase.